SPOOR, sp[=oo]r, _n._ track or trail of an animal, esp. when hunted as game.--_n._ SPOOR'ER, one who tracks game by the spoor. [Dut. _spoor_, a track; cf. Ger. _spur_, Ice. _spor_, a track, Scot. _speir_, to ask.]
SPORADIC, -AL, sp[=o]-rad'ik, -al, _adj._ scattered--a term specially applied to any disease usually epidemic or contagious, when it attacks only a few persons in a district and does not spread in its ordinary manner.--_adv._ SPORAD'ICALLY.--_n._ SPORAD'ICALNESS. [Gr.
_sporadikos_--_sporas_, _sporados_, scattered--_speirein_, to sow.]
SPORE, sp[=o]r, _n._ the reproductive body in flowerless plants like the fern, analogous to the seeds of ordinary flowering plants, but containing no embryo: a germ, a seed, a source of being generally.--_adjs._ SPORAN'GIAL; SPORANGIF'EROUS; SPORAN'GIFORM; SPORAN'GIOID, like a sporangium.--_ns._ SPORANG[=I]'OLUM, a small sporangium; SPORAN'GIOPH[=O]RE, the receptacle which bears the sporangia; SPORAN'GIOSP[=O]RE, one of the peculiar spores of the _Myxomycetes_; SPORAN'GIUM (_pl._ SPORAN'GIA), a spore-case, the sac in which the spores are produced endogenously--also SPORE'-CASE; SP[=O]'RIDESM (_bot._), a pluricellular body which becomes free like a simple spore, and in which every cell is capable of germinating; SPORID[=I]'OLUM, a secondary sporidium; SPORID'IUM, a secondary spore borne on a promycelium: an ascospore; SPORIFIC[=A]'TION, spore-production; SPORIPAR'ITY, reproduction by means of spores.--_adj._ SPORIP'AROUS.--_ns._ SP[=O]'ROCARP, a many-celled form of fruit produced in certain lower cryptogams in consequence of a sexual act; SP[=O]'ROCYST, the cyst or capsule developed in the process of sporular encystment.--_adj._ SPOROCYST'IC.--_ns._ SP[=O]'RODERM, the wall or covering of a spore; SPOROGEN'ESIS, reproduction by means of spores--also SPOROG'ENY.--_adj._ SPOROG'ENOUS.--_n._ SPOROG[=O]'NIUM, the sporocarp, capsule or so-called 'moss-fruit' in mosses.--_adj._ SP[=O]'ROID, like a spore.--_ns._ SPOROL'OGIST, a botanist who emphasises the spores in classification; SP[=O]'ROPHORE, the part of the thallus which bears spores: the placenta in flowering plants: a sporophyte.--_adjs._ SPOROPHOR'IC, SPOROPH'OROUS.--_ns._ SP[=O]'ROPHYL, the leaf bearing the spores or spore receptacles; SP[=O]'ROPHYTE, the spore-bearing stage in the life-cycle of a plant.--_adj._ SPOROPHYT'IC.--_ns._ SP[=O]'ROSAC, one of the gonophores of certain hydrozoans in which the medusoid structure is not developed: a redia or spiro-cyst, in Vermes; SPOROST[=E]'GIUM, the so-called fruit of plants in the _Characeae_, consisting of the hard brownish spirally-twisted shell or covering of the spore.--_adjs._ SP[=O]'ROUS; SP[=O]'RULAR.--_ns._ SPORUL[=A]'TION, conversion into spores or sporules--also SPOR[=A]'TION; SP[=O]'RULE, a small spore.--_adjs._ SPORULIF'EROUS, SPOR'ULOID. [Gr.
_sporos_, a sowing, seed--_speirein_, to sow.]
[Illustration]
SPORRAN, spor'an, _n._ an ornamental pouch worn in front of the kilt by the Highlanders of Scotland. [Gael, _sporan_.]
SPORT, sp[=o]rt, _v.i._ to play: to frolic: to practise field diversions: to trifle.--_v.t._ to amuse: to make merry: to represent playfully: to spend in sport or display.--_n._ that which amuses or makes merry: play: mirth: jest: contemptuous mirth: anything for playing with: a toy: idle jingle: field diversion: an animal or plant, or one of its organs, that varies singularly and spontaneously from the normal type.--_n._ SPORT'ER, one who sports: a sportsman.--_adj._ SPORT'FUL, full of sport: merry: full of jesting.--_adv._ SPORT'FULLY.--_n._ SPORT'FULNESS.--_adj._ SPORT'ING, relating to, or engaging in, sports.--_adv._ SPORT'INGLY.--_adj._ SPORT'IVE, inclined to sport: playful: merry: amorous, wanton.--_adv._ SPORT'IVELY.--_n._ SPORT'IVENESS.--_adj._ SPORT'LESS, without sport or mirth: sad.--_n._ SPORTS'MAN, one who practises, or one skilled in, field-sports.--_adj._ SPORTS'MAN-LIKE.--_ns._ SPORTS'MANSHIP, practice or skill of a sportsman; SPORTS'WOMAN, a she-sportsman.--SPORT ONE'S OAK (see OAK). [Formed by aphaeresis from _disport_.]
SPOSH, sposh, _n._ slush.--_adj._ SPOSH'Y.
SPOT, spot, _n._ a mark made by a drop of wet matter: a blot: a discoloured place: a small part of a different colour: a small extent of space: any particular place: one of the marked points on a billiard-table, from which balls are played (for _Centre-spot_, _Pyramid-spot_, &c., see BILLIARDS): one of the dark places on the surface of the sun, &c.: something that soils: a stain on character or reputation.--_v.t._ to mark with drops of wet: to stain: to discolour: to taint: to tarnish, as reputation: to note or recognise by some point, to detect: to indicate, name:--_pr.p._ spot'ting; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ spot'ted.--_adj._ SPOT'LESS, without a spot: untainted: pure.--_adv._ SPOT'LESSLY.--_ns._ SPOT'LESSNESS; SPOT'-STROKE, a stroke in billiards when the player pockets the red ball from the 'spot,'
leaving his own ball in position to repeat the stroke.--_adjs._ SPOT'TED, SPOT'TY, marked with spots or discoloured places.--_ns._ SPOT'TEDNESS, the state of being spotted; SPOT'TER, one who spots or detects; SPOT'TINESS, state of being spotty.--SPOT-BARRED GAME, a game at billiards when the spot-stroke is forbidden to be played more than twice consecutively. [Cf.
Dut. _spat_, Dan. _spaette_; prob. conn. with _spit_.]
SPOUSE, spowz, _n._ a husband or wife.--_adj._ SPOUS'AL, pertaining to a spouse, or to marriage: nuptial: matrimonial.--_n._ usually in _pl._ nuptials: marriage.--_adj._ SPOUSE'LESS, destitute of a spouse: unmarried.
[O. Fr. _espouse_ (Fr. _epoux_, fem. _epouse_)--L. _sponsus_, pa.p. of _spond[=e]re_, to promise in marriage.]
SPOUT, spowt, _v.t._ to throw out, as from a pipe: to utter volubly: to pawn, pledge.--_v.i._ to issue with violence, as from a pipe: to speak volubly, to speechify.--_n._ the projecting mouth of a vessel from which a stream issues: a pipe for conducting a liquid: a term applied to the blowing or breathing of whales and other cetaceans.--_ns._ SPOUT'ER, one who, or that which, spouts: a speechifier: a South Sea whale, a skilful whaler; SPOUT'-HOLE, an orifice for discharging a liquid, a whale's spiracle.--_adj._ SPOUT'LESS, wanting a spout. [Skeat explains that _spout_, like _speak_, has lost an _r_, thus standing for _sprout_, the _r_ being preserved in _spurt_, with nearly the same sense as _spout_. Sw.
_sputa_ for _spruta_, to squirt; Dut. _spuiten_.]
SPRACK, sprak, _adj._ vigorous, sprightly.--Also SPRAG. [Ice. _spraekr_, _sparkr_, sprightly.]
SPRACKLE, sprak'l, _v.i._ (_Scot._) to clamber up with difficulty.--Also SPRACH'LE, SPRAUCH'LE. [Ice. _spraukla_, to sprawl.]
SPRAD, sprad (_Spens._). Same as SPREAD.
SPRAG, sprag, _n._ a piece of wood used to lock a wheel: a punch-prop in mining.--_v.t._ to prop, or to stop, by a sprag.
SPRAG, sprag, _n._ (_prov._) a young salmon.
SPRAICH, spr[=a]h, _n._ (_Scot._) a shriek, cry.--_v.i._ to shriek.
SPRAID, spr[=a]d, _adj._ (_prov._) chapped with cold.--Also SPRAYED.
SPRAIN, spr[=a]n, _v.t._ to overstrain the muscles of a joint.--_n._ a term employed in surgery to designate a violent stretching of tendinous or ligamentous parts with or without rupture of some of their fibres. [O. Fr.
_espreindre_ (Fr. _epreindre_), to press--L. _exprim[)e]re_, to press out.]
SPRAINT, spr[=a]nt, _n._ the dung of an otter.
SPRANG, _pa.t._ of _spring_.
SPRANGLE, sprang'gl, _v.i._ to sprawl, struggle.
SPRAT, sprat, _n._ a fish of the family _Clupeidae_, like the herring, but much smaller.--_n._ SPRAT'-WEATH'ER, the dark days of November and December. [Dut. _sprot_; Ger. _sprotte_.]
SPRATTLE, sprat'l, _v.i._ (_Scot._) to scramble.
SPRAWL, sprawl, _v.i._ to toss or kick about the limbs: to stretch the body carelessly when lying: to spread ungracefully.--_n._ a sprawling posture.--_n._ SPRAWL'ER. [There is an A.S. _spreawlian_, to move convulsively; but the word is most probably for _sprattle_ or _sprottle_--Sw. _sprattla_, to sprawl; cf. Dan. _spraelle_, to toss about the limbs.]
SPRAY, spr[=a], _n._ small particles of water driven by the wind, as from the top of waves, &c.--_adj._ SPRAY'EY, consisting of spray. [Skeat suggests that the word is from Dut. _spreiden_, to spread, scatter.]
SPRAY, spr[=a], _n._ a small shoot of a tree.--_adj._ SPRAY'EY, branching.
[Akin to Ice. _sprek_, a twig, Dan. _sprag_; Doublet _sprig_.]
SPREAD, spred, _v.t._ to scatter abroad or in all directions: to stretch: to extend: to overlay: to shoot out, as branches: to circulate, as news: to cause to affect numbers, as a disease: to diffuse: to set with provisions, as a table.--_v.i._ to extend or expand in all directions: to be extended or stretched: to be propagated or circulated:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ spread.--_n._ extent: compass: expansion of parts: that which is spread out, a feast: a cover for a bed or a table.--_adj._ having a broad surface: shallower than the standard.--_adj._ SPREAD'-EA'GLE, like an eagle with the wings stretched out, bombastic, boastful.--_n._ (_naut._) a person seized in the rigging, a passenger thus made to pay his entrance forfeit.--_ns._ SPREAD'-EA'GLEISM, a bombastic and frothy patriotism; SPREAD'ER, one who, or that which, spreads, one who publishes or extends: any machine or implement for helping to scatter.--_p.adj._ SPREAD'ING.--_adv._ SPREAD'INGLY, increasingly.--SPREAD A FLEET, to keep more open order. [A.S.
_spr['ae]dan_; Dut. _spreiden_, Ger. _spreiten_.]
SPREAGH, spreh, _n._ plunder.--_n._ SPREAGH'ERY, cattle-lifting. [Gael.
_spreidh_, cattle.]
SPRECKLED, sprek'ld, _adj._ speckled.
SPRED, spred, _pa.p._ and _n._ an obsolete form of _spread_.--Also SPRED'DEN.
SPREE, spr[=e], _n._ a merry frolic: a drunken bout.--_v.i._ to carouse.
[Prob. Ir. _spre_, a spark, _spraic_, vigour.]
SPRENT, sprent, _adj._ sprinkled. [M. E. _sprengen_ (pa.t. _sprente_)--A.S.
_sprengan_, to cause to spring.]
SPRIG, sprig, _n._ a small shoot or twig: a scion, a young person: an ornament like a spray: one of various small pointed implements, a headless nail: one of the separate pieces of lace fastened on a ground in applique lace.--_v.t._ to embroider with representations of twigs:--_pr.p._ sprig'ging; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ sprigged.--_adj._ SPRIG'GY, full of sprigs or young branches. [Cf. Ice. _sprek_, a stick.]
SPRIGHT, spr[=i]t, _n._ the same as _Sprite_ (q.v.).--_adj._ SPRIGHT'FUL (_Shak._), full of spirit: brisk, gay.--_adv._ SPRIGHT'FULLY, in a sprightful manner, briskly, vigorously.--_n._ SPRIGHT'FULNESS, the quality of being sprightful, briskness, liveliness.--_adj._ SPRIGHT'LESS, destitute of spirit or life: dull: sluggish.--_n._ SPRIGHT'LINESS.--_adj._ SPRIGHT'LY, airy: full of life: lively: brisk. [_Spright_=_sprite_.]
SPRING, spring, _v.i._ to bound: to leap: to rush hastily: to move suddenly by elastic force: to start up suddenly: to break forth: to appear: to issue: to come into existence: (_B._) to rise, as the sun.--_v.t._ to cause to spring up: to start: to produce quickly, cause to act suddenly: to leap over: to explode, as a mine: to open, as a leak: to crack, as a mast: to bend by force, strain: (_archit._) to start from an abutment, &c.: to set together with bevel-joints:--_pa.t._ sprang, sprung; _pa.p._ sprung.--_n._ a leap: a flying back with elastic force: elastic power: an elastic body: any active power: that by which action is produced: cause or origin: a source: an outflow of water from the earth: (_B._) the dawn: the time when plants begin to spring up and grow, the vernal season--March, April, May: a starting of a plank in a vessel: a crack in a mast.--_ns._ SPRING'AL, SPRING'ALD, an active springy young man, a youth; SPRING'-BACK, an inner false joint on a bound book, springing upward from the true or outer back when the book is opened flat; SPRING'-BAL'ANCE, an instrument for determining the weight of a body by the elasticity of a spiral spring; SPRING'-BEAM, a beam of considerable span, without central support, the tie-beam of a truss; in a steamer, a fore-and-aft beam for connecting the two paddle-beams: an elastic bar at the top of a tilt-hammer, jig-saw, &c.; SPRING'-BEAU'TY, the _Claytonia Virginica_; SPRING'-BED, a mattress formed of spiral springs set in a wooden frame; SPRING'-BEE'TLE, an elater; SPRING'-BOARD, a board fastened on elastic supports, used to spring from in performing feats of agility; SPRING'BOK, a beautiful South African antelope, larger than a roebuck [Dut.]; SPRING'-BOX, a box or barrel in which a spring is coiled: the frame of a sofa, &c., in which the springs are set; SPRING'-CARR'IAGE, a wheel-carriage mounted on springs; SPRING'-CART, a light cart mounted upon springs; SPRING'ER, a kind of dog of the spaniel class, useful for springing game in copses: one who springs: the bottom stone of an arch; SPRING'-GUN, a gun having wires connected with its trigger, and so fixed and planted as to be discharged when trespassers stumble against the wire; SPRING'-HALT, a jerking lameness in which a horse suddenly twitches up his leg or legs; SPRING'-HAMM'ER, a machine-hammer in which the blow is delivered or augmented by the force of a spring; SPRING'-HEAD, a fountain-head, source: a head or end-piece for a carriage-spring.--_adj._ SPRING'-HEAD'ED (_Spens._), having heads springing afresh.--_ns._ SPRING'-HEELED JACK, one supposed capable of leaping a great height or distance in carrying out mischievous or frolicsome tricks; SPRING'-HOOK, an angler's snap-hook or spear-hook: a latch or door-hook with a spring-catch for keeping it fast in the staple: in a locomotive, a hook fixing the driving-wheel spring to the frame; SPRING'-HOUSE, a house for keeping meat in, or a dairy, built for coolness over a spring or brook; SPRING'INESS; SPRING'ING, the act of springing, leaping, arising, or issuing: (_B._) growth, increase: (_archit._) the lowest part of an arch on both sides; SPRING'-JACK, a device for inserting a loop in a main electric line-circuit, a plug being forced between two spring contacts; SPRING'-LATCH, a latch that snaps into the keeper whenever the door is shut; SPRING'LET, a little spring: a small stream; SPRING'-LIG'AMENT, the inferior calcaneoscaphoid ligament of the sole of the foot; SPRING'-LOCK, a lock which fastens by a spring; SPRING'-MAT'TRESS=_Spring-bed_; SPRING'-NET, a net that closes with a spring; SPRING'-PAD'LOCK, a padlock that snaps itself shut; SPRING'-POLE, a pole whose elasticity serves as a spring; SPRING'-SAD'DLE, a bent iron bar of [Spring-saddle] form on the top of a railway carriage journal-box, surrounding the arch-bar and supporting the spring; SPRING'-SEARCH'ER, a steel-pronged tool to search for defects in the bore of a gun; SPRING'-SHACK'LE, a shackle closed by a spring: a shackle joining one spring of a vehicle with another or with a rigid piece; SPRING'-STAY (_naut._), a smaller stay, placed above the stays as a duplicate if needed; SPRING'-STUD, a rod passed through the axis of a coil-spring to keep it in place; SPRING'-TAIL, one of an order of primitive wingless insects (_Collembola_), so called popularly from a peculiar springing fork usually present on the abdomen; SPRING'-TIDE, the periodical excess of the elevation and depression of the tide, after new and full moon, when both sun and moon act in the same direction; SPRING'-TIDE, -TIME, the season of spring; SPRING'-TOOL, any tool bearing a spring, as a glass-blower's tongs; SPRING'-TRAP, a trap worked by a spring, a mouse-trap, &c.; SPRING'-VALVE, a valve fitted with a spring: a safety-valve connected with a spring-balance; SPRING'-WA'TER, water issuing from a spring; SPRING'-WHEAT, wheat sown in the spring, rather than autumn or winter; SPRING'-WORT, a plant which draws down lightning--perh. the caperspurge.--_adj._ SPRING'Y, pertaining to, or like, a spring, elastic, nimble: abounding with springs.--SPRING A LEAK, to commence leaking; SPRING A MINE, to cause it to explode--often used figuratively; SPRING A RATTLE, to cause a rattle to sound; SPRING AT, to leap at; SPRING FORTH, to come forward with a leap: to shoot up rapidly; SPRING ON, or UPON, to attack with violence. [A.S. _springan_; Ger. _springen_.]
SPRINGE, sprinj, _n._ a snare with a spring-noose: a gin.--_v.t._ to catch in a springe. [Prov. Eng. _springle_--_spring_; cf. Ger.
_sprenkel_--_springen_.]
SPRINKLE, spring'kl, _v.t._ to scatter in small drops or particles: to scatter on: to baptise with a few drops of water: to purify.--_v.i._ to scatter in drops.--_n._ an aspersorium or utensil for sprinkling.--_ns._ SPRIN'KLE, SPRIN'KLING, a small quantity sprinkled: in book-binding, the mottling of the edges of trimmed leaves by scattering a few drops of colour on them; SPRIN'KLER. [Freq. formed from A.S. _sprengan_, the causal of _springan_, to spring; cf. Ger. _sprenkeln_.]
SPRINT, sprint, _n._ a short-distance race at full speed.--_v.i._ to run at full speed--also SPRENT.--_ns._ SPRIN'TER, a short-distance runner in races; SPRIN'TING; SPRINT'-RACE; SPRINT'-RUN'NER. [Cf. _Spurt_.]
[Illustration]
SPRIT, sprit, _n._ (_naut._) a spar set diagonally to extend a fore-and-aft sail. [A.S. _spreot_, a pole; Dut. and Ger. _spriet_, a bowsprit; conn.
with _sprout_.]
SPRITE, spr[=i]t, _n._ a spirit: a shade: a ghost: (_obs._) frame of mind, disposition.--Also SPRIGHT. [A doublet of _spirit_.]
SPRITEFUL, SPRITELY, &c. Same as SPRIGHTFUL, &c.
SPROCKET, sprok'et, _n._ a projection on the periphery of a wheel or capstan for engaging the chain.